FM Selaković: Excellent cooperation between Serbia and the Council of Europe

08. Mar 2022.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia, H.E. Mr. Nikola Selaković, met today with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Ms. Marija Pejčinović Burić.

Welcoming with the visit of the Secretary General to Serbia, Foreign Minister Selaković emphasized significance of the visit for Serbia, especially bearing in mind the sensitive political moment in which it is taking place. 

FM Selaković remarked that Serbia is very pleased with the cooperation it has with the Council of Europe, highlighting in particular the significant support that this organization is providing to our reform process and the path to full membership in the EU.

Serbian Foreign Minister also pointed out the excellent cooperation on many projects that Serbia is implementing with the Council of Europe Development Bank - from the Regional Housing Program, through loans for dual education projects and student housing projects, to the remediation of the consequences of the COVID 19 virus pandemic.

FM Selaković welcomed the decision of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe to send an observation mission for the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections in Serbia.

Mr. Selaković said that in accordance with the policy of normalization of relations with Pri?tina, Serbia supports any form of engagement of the Council of Europe in Kosovo and Metohija aimed at improving standards in the field of human rights, rule of law and democracy - in the spirit of the UN Security Council Resolution 1244 and a status-neutral approach.

During the meeting, Foreign Minister Selaković emphasized that Serbia strongly opposes the initiation of the procedure for Pri?tina's admission to the Council of Europe, noting that this would be a violation of the CoE Statute and thus undermine the unity of that organization.

FM Selaković also said that Serbia is monitoring the current events in Eastern Europe with great attention and concern, stressing that the Serbian people consider both Russians and Ukrainians to be fraternal peoples and that both Russia and Ukraine are friends of Serbs.